Therapeutic Alliance as a Mediator in the Absence of Post-Treatment Recidivism
A Study of Men Who Have Committed a Sexual Offense Against a Child
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22420240 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Etienne Garant (0000-0002-7120-6888, Université de Montréal, corresponding author), Alexandre Gauthier (0000-0003-4187-4030, Université de Montréal) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 242-266 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-17 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1053-8712 • E-ISSN: 1547-0679 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10538712.2026.2658664 |
| PMID | 41968724 |
| OpenAlex | W7154112769 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 65 |
The impact of motivation for change, group therapy climate, and therapeutic alliance on treatment success in men who have committed sexual offenses (MCSOs) has produced mixed results in previous studies, often studied independently or limited to treatment progression. Thus, the way these factors interact and influence post-treatment recidivism remains unclear. The present study addressed this gap by examining the interplay of these factors in a sample of 140 men who had committed sexual offenses against children, followed for a potential recidivism period of 5-8 years, using both repeated measures ANOVA and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results from the ANOVA showed a decrease in cognitive distortions supporting child sexual offenses before and after treatment, associated to a stronger therapeutic alliance. SEM analysis revealed that the therapeutic alliance mediated the relationship between motivation, group climate, and the absence of post-treatment recidivism. These findings highlight the central role of the therapist in treatment effectiveness with MCSOs.
Alliance · Child sexual abuse · Mediator · Recidivism · Repeated measures design · Sex offense · Sexual assault · Structural equation modeling · Child Abuse and Trauma · Counseling Practices and Supervision · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Pedophilia and sexual offending against children
Structural Equation Modeling
Relation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables
Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change
Stages of change in psychotherapy
Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy
Stages of change and decisional balance for 12 problem behaviors.
Stages and processes of self-change of smoking
The Psychology of Criminal Conduct
The Effectiveness of Psychological Treatment in Adult Male Convicted for Sexual Offenses Against Children
The Effectiveness of Psychological Treatment for Reducing Recidivism in Child Molesters
Protective Factors Related to Desistance in Sexual Offending
Shame and the motivation to change the self
The sexual recidivism drop in Canada
Pornography Use, Offense-Supportive Cognitions, Atypical Sexual Interests, and Sexual Offending against Children
| Highly cited | No |
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